Sunday, April 28, 2013

This is a break from my normal subjects, but I enjoy shooting something different from time to time. It helps keep things interesting. This is just one of our many churches in the area and I shot it for the new meme...

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

While at the lake over the winter, I saw my first Bonaparte's Gulls. Fortunately, I got three or four photos because it was the only time I saw them. I suspect they were migrating and made a brief stop. Normally, the only gulls that winter here are Ring-billed Gulls and they don't appear in huge numbers.

Sunday, April 21, 2013

I saw my first garter snake of the year recently. The past couple of years they've appeared in March, but with our lingering cool weather, I didn't see my first one until this month. So far I've only see this one, but I expect as the weather begins to warm and stay that way, I'll see more.

Monday, April 8, 2013

This is a photo I took of my daughter yesterday while we were out enjoying the warm weather. I suppose it would be more accurate to say it's a landscape photo that happens to include my daughter. The hill wasn't as high as it appears in the picture. The combination of a wide angle lens and me shooting from ground level makes the distance appear more dramatic. Even as small as she is, the photo wouldn't be the same without her (or something) to draw the eye.

Friday, April 5, 2013

This is my first and only photo of a Pileated Woodpecker. Ever. Shot with a 500mm lens. That gives you an idea of just how far away it was. I knew a nice close up of the woodpecker was going to be impossible and I could have easily walked away saying there was no shot. Instead, I took a moment to look at the surroundings and see if I could still make a pleasing photo. Sometimes we get so intent on a singular subject that we give up if we can't get the shot we originally wanted. It often pays to slow down and work with what you have available. Not that this photo would win any Nat Geo contests, but at least I didn't walk away empty-handed.

Monday, April 1, 2013

I noticed some quick movements near the ground feeder one evening and it turned out to be this vole raiding the bird seed. It would run out from the base of the tree, grab a seed, and run back to the tree. Compared to the much larger "tree rats", this little guy barely made a dent in the bird food.